Pakistan seriously pursuing 26/11 leads, says envoy

December 16, 2009 13:13 IST

Terming as 'unfortunate' the stalled talks between the two countries, Pakistan has advocated de-linking the resumption of composite dialogue from the 26/11 probe, saying it was 'seriously' pursuing all the leads provided by India.

"Both Pakistan and India are today at a stage unfortunately where there is no dialogue between them. If we are seated across the table and agree to disagree, even that is an improvement over the current state of affairs," Pakistan High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik said at a book release function in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Maintaining that Pakistan had made 'repeated requests' to India to start the dialogue process and was still waiting for a positive response, he said, "I was present in Sharm-el- Sheikh (Egypt) in July, where it was agreed in a statement -- where the two prime ministers (Manmohan Singh and Pakistan PM Yusuf Raza Gilani) were also present-- that dialogue is the only way forward."

He said it was also mentioned in that joint statement that investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks would be de-linked from the composite dialogue process.

"Both (dialogue and probe) have their own importance. Investigations are being conducted into that very unfortunate incident, but at the same time, the dialogue process will not be linked, that was part of that statement," he added.

Claiming that investigations were on into the Mumbai terror attacks, Malik said, "So far as investigations are concerned, it is continuing. The government of Pakistan is seriously pursuing all the leads that have been provided by India."